Skipper Muhammad Waseem struck a blistering 42-ball 82 as United Arab Emirates secured a stunning two-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second Twenty20 game at Sharjah Cricket Stadium Monday.
Having won the match, which was their first victory against Bangladesh in any format, UAE leveled the three-game series 1-1.
The third clash, slated to be held Wednesday, will decide the fate of the series that has been turned on its head following the Emiratis' triumph.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim hit a brilliant half-century to lead Bangladesh to an imposing 205/5 but Waseem, the skipper of UAE, took the game away with a six-laden knock.
The home side reached 206/8 in the penultimate delivery of the encounter.
The power-hitting capability made the ultimate difference with the UAE batters smoking 13 sixes in contrast to Bangladesh’s nine.
But despite Waseem’s whirlwind knock, Bangladesh came back strongly in the tie at the fag end to raise hopes of a victory.
Haider Ali ruined the visitors’ hopes by holding his nerve and guiding the side home with an unbeaten six-ball 15.
Chasing the target of 206, Waseem and his fellow opener Muhammad Zohaib put on 107 runs for the opening stand in just 10.1 overs and made them heavy favourites for the victory.
Tanvir Islam broke through with the wicket of Zohaib who made second highest 38 for UAE and Rishad Hossain got the better of Rahul Chopra for two.
When Shoriful Islam removed Waseem after he struck nine fours and five sixes, Bangladesh cracked the game open by bagging some wickets in quick succession.
However, UAE lower-order batters kept hitting without any reservation to keep them flowing in the game before Haider landed on Bangladesh the killer blow.
Waseem’s knock trumped Tanzid who paved the platform for a big total for Bangladesh.
Tanzid led the charge with a 33-ball 59, an inning laced with eight fours and three sixes.
Towhid Hridoy struck a 24-ball 45 and skipper Liton Das added 40 off 32 to steer Bangladesh to a hefty total.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto, playing his first match in the series, made 27 off 19.
Tanzid gave Bangladesh a whirlwind start after UAE captain Waseem put them in to bat first.
He raced to his fourth fifty in T20 cricket in the first powerplay, a rare feat achieved by a Bangladeshi batter.
He raised the fifty off 25 balls, clubbing Haider over deep square leg with a slog-sweep for six.
But after brining up his fifty in style, he slowed down a bit and scored last nine runs in seven deliveries before being dismissed by debutant Saghir Khan.
When he departed as the first batter, Bangladesh already scored 90 runs in nine overs.
Shanto and Liton kept up the tempo before the skipper was out for 40 after hammering three fours and one six.
Hridoy continued bashing the bowlers to all corners of the park while Shanto and Jaker Ali Anik played two cameos to ensure Bangladesh would get past 200-run mark with ease.
Muhammad Jawadullah removed both Shanto and Jaker before Saghir dismissed Hridoy in the penultimate over with a return catch.
Hridoy’s innings was decorated with three fours and two sixes.
Jawadullah, who claimed four wickets in the first match, this time took 3/54 while Saghir returned figure of 2/36.
2ND T20I
Bangladesh 205/5 (Tanzid 59, Hridoy 45, Liton 40) lost to United Arab Emirates 206/8 in 19.5 overs (Waseem 82, Rishad 2/28, Shoriful 2/34) by 2 wickets